PUTNAM, CT – Heidi Blackmar, an eight-year Day Kimball Healthcare employee and cancer survivor, is hosting the “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Day Kimball Hospital’s RHF conference room #2. The goal of the event is to collect new hats and scarves to be given to patients of Day Kimball’s Oncology Department. Tea, snacks and fun will be served. The event is open to the public and those who bring a new hat or scarf will be entered into a raffle to win prizes donated by Day Kimball employees.

“Cancer is so prevalent in our community,” said Pat Hedenberg, Day Kimball Healthcare event and appeals manager. “This event is a classic example of how members of our community and our organization will support those in need, because they truly care about the well-being of others.”

Blackmar is a breast cancer survivor and found great comfort in wearing hats and scarves when she began to lose her hair. The inspiration for this hat and scarf collection party happened when Blackmar’s hair began falling out after her chemotherapy treatments. For her role in creating this event, Blackmar said, “I thought this was a small thing to do, although the effects would be far reaching for the women of Northeast Connecticut. I wanted to give women the strength from within, to find life within their cancer and help to give them the inspiration to go on.” Blackmar found the strength to go on with the support of her family and by taking charge of her hair loss.

“When I began to lose my hair I asked my husband to shave my head,” said Blackmar. “After he did, I laughed at my reflection in the mirror and decided that I needed to make a fashion statement. I began wearing hats and scarves and felt good about the way I looked. I hope that by offering these accessories to other women going through cancer treatment, they will feel good about the way they look, too.”

In support of the Look Good…Feel Better program, Blackmar hopes to inspire women by providing them with the means to enhance their self esteem while undergoing treatment and beyond. Look Good… Feel Better is a free, non-medical, brand-neutral, national public service program created to help individuals with cancer look good, improve their self-esteem, and manage their treatment and recovery with greater confidence.

If you would like to donate new hats or scarves but cannot make the event, you may bring your items to WINY 1350 am, Putnam’s local radio station, from now through March 31, 2010. In addition, collections will continue from March 31 through April 14, 2010 in a bin outside of the Day Kimball Hospital cafeteria.